north yorkshire county council Archives - Page 90 of 96

Harrogate care homes urged to end routine visits in October

Care homes in Harrogate have been advised to halt routine visits throughout October to protect residents from covid.

North Yorkshire County Council director of health and adult services Richard Webb has written to every care provider in the county asking them to introduce the restriction from Thursday due to rising coronavirus infection rates.

Mr Webb recommended that families and friends visiting residents at the end of their lives should still be allowed to do so.

A similar restriction was brought in earlier this month for seven days.

Mr Webb tweeted:

“This is a step I was very reluctant to take but against a backdrop of rising community infection rates, we need to act now.”

Mr Webb said in future he would like care homes to operate a nominated visitor scheme whereby a named visitor gets tested regularly so they can continue visiting.

However, he said national problems with testing availability “make that unrealistic at the moment”.

Mr Webb added on Twitter:

“We will look at alternative options to see what we can do to help providers find a better way forward. Balancing #Covid protection versus residents’ #mentalhealth is one of the toughest dilemmas.”

Mike Padgham, chair of the provider organisation The Independent Care Group, said:

“It is regrettable that home visits have to stop but we have to do everything we can, with North Yorkshire County Council, to prevent the spread of coronavirus to the older and vulnerable people we care for.”

More efficient gritters to save County Council £120,000

North Yorkshire County Council has approved plans to make its gritting service more efficient which could save £120,000 this year.

The authority’s Business and Environmental Services Executive backed the proposals which it says will see gritters spread salt more accurately and reduce the average age of its fleet.

The measure will see the council gritters move to a new, lower, minimum salt spread rates as outlined in the UK Roads Liaison Group’s guidance.

True grit – facts about North Yorkshire gritters

With an annual gritting budget of £6 million, the county council grits 4,440km of road and make 6,687 runs in a typical year. Around 6,287 routes were treated last year.
The county’s gritters are responsible for one of England’s largest road networks.
With 86 gritters, 107 farm contractors, five road snowblowers and seven footway snowblowers at its disposal, the county council is able to treat roads between October and April.
55,000 tonnes of salt is stocked in preparation for winter and the authority has 14 weather camera set up to keep an eye on the roads.
Crews are on call 24 hours a day and are usually out at 5am to grit the county’s road network.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for highways, said the savings had been made possible by investing in modern equipment :

“As the county council invests in modern equipment like ploughs and gritters, so we can introduce fine adjustments to our methods, thereby making valuable savings for our taxpayers, whilst continuing to deliver one of the most comprehensive winter gritting services in the country.”

Meanwhile, David Bowe, corporate director of business and environmental services (BES), said:

“We are moving to a more efficient and cost-effective way of delivering our service based on a review of national research and improved technology.

“The last time our spread rates were fully reviewed was over 12 years ago and advances in technology mean we can still deliver a comprehensive service but in a more cost-effective manner.

“We’ll always ensure our salt spread rates are appropriate for weather conditions. With routine treatments during milder winters the saving could be around £120,000 for the coming winter season. We will be able to utilise any efficiency savings on other essential council services.

“Any savings will depend on the weather conditions as no two winters are the same. We can spend between £6 million and £10 million delivering our winter service. Salt accounts for around a third of that cost. Please be assured that these changes will not compromise the safety of our roads.”

Council considers plan to pedestrianise Montpellier Parade

Montpellier Parade in Harrogate could be closed to traffic and used instead for outdoor drinking and eating.

North Yorkshire County Council told the Stray Ferret it was considering a request by the Blues Bar to close the highway.

It is the latest twist in the saga in which Simon and Sharon Colgan, the owners of the Blues Bar, have been battling to maintain more outdoor space to compensate for a reduction in indoor capacity post-lockdown.

The bar’s indoor capacity reduced drastically from 80 to 25 when it reopened in July due to social distancing.

Harrogate Borough Council temporarily allowed the bar to have tables on the Stray to help business.

But the borough council insisted the tables were removed on Monday to “prevent damage to the Stray and also reduce the risk of injury should it become wet and muddy”.

Now North Yorkshire County Council, which is responsible for highways, is offering a lifeline.

Melisa Burnham, the county council’s highways area manager, said:

“We have received a request from the owners of the Blues Bar to close Montpellier Parade.

“We have not made any commitment to close this road as further investigation and relevant consultation with the emergency services and adjoining businesses still needs to take place.

“If practically feasible, necessary temporary traffic regulation order requirements would mean that this could be a number of weeks before it could be delivered.”

Any closure at this stage would be temporary, but Ms Colgan said Montpellier Parade was hardly used by traffic and pedestrianising the street would benefit the town as a whole as well as the Blues Bar. She said:

“It would create more areas for outdoor eating and be a popular area for people in the town centre.”

Five coronavirus outbreaks at Harrogate schools

Five schools in the Harrogate district have recorded incidents of coronavirus since they reopened, county council bosses revealed today.

Stuart Carlton, director of children and young people services at North Yorkshire Council Council, said the cases involved seven pupils across the different schools.

As a result of the infections, three classes have been isolated.

The figures were revealed at a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of agencies that responds to emergencies.

Mr Carlton said 31 schools in the county have suffered outbreaks, with 69 staff and pupils involved.

The Stray Ferret has reported coronavirus cases at St Aidan’s C of E High School, St John Fisher Catholic High School and Bilton Grange Primary School last week, as well as outbreaks at Harrogate Grammar School and Harrogate Ladies’ College.

Mr Carlton said the authority was “aware this would happen” and that parents should have confidence that schools are safe to go to. Mr Carlton said:

“We planned for this and we knew these things would happen. I am still confident about the measures we have in place.

“My message to parents would be you should have strong confidence that schools are safe places for children and we would encourage you to speak to your school if you are worried.”

North Yorkshire declares covid emergency

The group of organisations coordinating North Yorkshire’s response to coronavirus announced today it has gone back into full emergency mode.

North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum said it had taken the action in response to rising infection rates, particularly in the Harrogate and Selby districts, as well as concerns about care home transmission and testing capacity.

Richard Flinton, who is chair of the forum and chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said “positive tests in Harrogate remain a worry”.

He added the council was “extremely keen to avoid enforced lockdowns if that is possible”.

Mr Flinton said:

“We are seeing community transmission of the virus now and a worrying rise in cases in a number of areas. We know how quickly infection rates can change and we are calling on the whole county to act now with us in response.”

Mr Flinton said the county council would reinstate major incident status for covid. He added:

“We will be communicating some very important messages with you over the coming days and weeks. Your response to the asks we put to you will be critical.”

Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for North Yorkshire Police’s response to covid, said officers in patrol cars were encouraging people to follow the rules, using enforcement as a last resort.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health for North Yorkshire, said testing was being hampered by “significant limitations” with laboratory capacity. He added:

“This issue is a national one and outside of our control. We have escalated our concerns nationally and we are targeting our local testing facilities towards the communities and people in greatest need.”

Harrogate Grammar School confirms covid case

Harrogate Grammar School revealed today that a pupil has tested positive for coronavirus.

The school said it had identified 45 other students who have been in close proximity to the pupil and told them to stay home for 14 days to isolate.

It did not confirm which year group had been affected.

But it said its safety measures had prevented any teachers needing to isolate.

A spokesperson from Harrogate Grammar School, said it had acted on advice from North Yorkshire County Council, adding:

“We can confirm that we have a positive case of covid in our school community. All parents have received a letter.

“We can’t confirm which year group the student is in as that is confidential. Due to year groupings and fixed seating plans for each class we have been able to identify those in close proximity and this in turn has meant the whole year group bubble has not had to self-isolate.”

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, North Yorkshire County Council’s director of public health, said:

“We expect from time to time there will be positive cases affecting teachers, parents or pupils. This may be reflective of the background increase in cases across North Yorkshire. We will work with each school individually to determine the best approach to take depending on the circumstances.

“If you haven’t been contacted by the school, then your child is not a contact of the person who has tested positive and can continue attending school as normal. Please only get a test if you have symptoms or are instructed to by contact tracers.”

Coronavirus cases in North Yorkshire below national average

The rate of coronavirus cases in North Yorkshire remains below the national average, despite concerns about an increase in infections.

A monthly meeting of North Yorkshire Outbreak Management Advisory board will hear tomorrow that the rate of cases in the county stands at a cumulative total of 497 per 100,000 population.

The overall rate for England is 569 per 100,000 population.

Public health bosses issued a plea last week for people to be vigilant and continue to social distance after an increase in coronavirus infections in North Yorkshire, particularly in the Harrogate, Scarborough and Selby districts.

The Harrogate district has seen a rise in cases in recent weeks, reaching a daily high of 21 on September 7, according to Public Health England figures.

The cumulative rate of cases in the Harrogate district stands at 544 per 100,000 population. This is below neighbouring Leeds, which is on 695 cases.

Leeds was made an “area of enhanced support” after its seven-day rate up to September 8 reached 69.7 cases per 100,000 people.

It means the city is receiving additional support and resources for testing.

Dr Lincoln Sargaent, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, last week urged people to to “avoid unnecessary interactions” to prevent the spread of the virus, particularly among young people.

County council bosses have urged residents to follow the government’s new ‘rule of six’, which forbids social gatherings of more than six people except in certain circumstances.

Chief inspector Charlotte Bloxham, North Yorkshire Police, said residents had “responded brilliantly” in previous months and expected the same response with the new rule.

She said:

“It’s vital that we react quickly to this advice and do everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus, as we all know how dangerous and devastating covid can be.”

Call for ‘greater vigilance’ amid Harrogate covid increase

North Yorkshire public health bosses have urged greater vigilance following an increase in coronavirus cases across the county, including in Harrogate.

The county council issued a statement today saying there had been a “significant rise in cases during the last week, particularly among young people”.

The statement added that “increases have been seen across the county, but particularly in the Selby, Scarborough and Harrogate districts”.

Between September 1 and 7 the Harrogate district saw 28 new cases.

Infections, however, remain low compared with areas such as Leeds, which is on the government’s covid watchlist.

A total of 825 cases have been confirmed in Harrogate since the start of the pandemic, a cumulative rate of 513 per 100,000. This compares with a total of 5,021 cases in Leeds at a rate of 633 per 100,000 population.

The council’s plea today comes as the government is expected to formally announce a ban on social gatherings of more than six people from Monday.

The new rule will prohibit people gathering indoors and outdoors, but with exceptions for weddings, funerals, christenings and workplaces.

Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“We are seeing an escalation in the number of cases. While this remains lower than in some neighbouring towns and cities, such as Middlesbrough and Leeds, there is no room for complacency.

“Now is the time that we must all follow the guidance to protect ourselves and each other. We don’t want people to be over-anxious, but everyone needs to be vigilant. The sacrifices people have made during the pandemic were outstanding and we must all stick to the guidance to avoid a second spike.”

Meanwhile, Dr Lincoln Sargeant, the council’s director of public health, called for people to limit unnecessary interactions.

He said:

“Avoid socialising outside of your social bubbles. In going about daily activities observe social distancing guidance and wear face coverings where it is not possible to maintain two metre social distance.

“We know some establishments have chosen to close as a precaution. We do not routinely recommend closure of a business unless this is necessary to prevent ongoing transmission linked to that business.

“However, some businesses may choose to close temporarily to implement additional safety measures, including cleaning, or because staff members are self-isolating.”

Harrogate Borough Council’s days are numbered, admits leader

The leader of Harrogate Borough Council has conceded the authority will cease to exist after devolution.

Political leaders in North Yorkshire are locked in a debate over two future models of local government – neither of which includes HBC.

Speaking at a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting on Monday, HBC leader Cllr Richard Cooper, said:

“At the end of this process, there will be no Harrogate Borough Council in any way, shape or form.

“We came into this with an open mind. We are not battling to take on more powers and we have no vested interests.”

Cllr Cooper and Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, both said they had no “vested interest” in whatever model the government chooses as part of its plans to devolve local government.

The meeting comes as county council and district council officials have been presenting their proposals to the public and business leaders across the county.

Cllr Cooper addressed the chamber meeting on behalf of the county’s seven district authorities. which have opted for an east/west model,

Cllr Cooper said he supported an overhaul of the council structure as the two-tier system was “costly”.

Cllr Cooper described the county council’s model, which would see a single authority covering North Yorkshire alongside the City of York, as a “continuity county council”.

But Mr Flinton said the authority did not have an interest in carrying on as it is and that the new authority would not be “a county council mark two”.

He said:

“This will be a totally new authority with a new way of operating.”

He added that his position, along with those of other senior council officers, would be open for applications under the new system.

The government is expected to publish a white paper on restructuring local government this autumn.

Under the government’s timetable, a new council could be in place as soon as 2022.

Earlier this week, Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, asked Simon Clarke, former local government minister, what the minimum population size for the unitary authorities would be.

However, Mr Clarke’s response did not give a figure. He added that the white paper would give more details on the matter.

District councillors are expected to vote on their model this month ahead of a submission to ministers.

Andrew Jones MP enters devolution debate

Local government minister Simon Clarke has sidestepped a request by Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones to state the minimum population size for a new unitary authority.

Mr Jones submitted a written question asking what the minimum size should be to achieve value for money and quality service delivery.

But Mr Clarke’s response did not give a figure. He said:

“Whilst traditionally various population ranges for unitary councils have been referred to, where a unitary council is proposed its particular circumstances need to be considered when assessing whether its population would be appropriate.”

Mr Clarke added the government’s devolution and local recovery white paper, due to be published this autumn, would provide more details.

‘Too big and remote’

Population size is a critical issue in the ongoing devolution debate in North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire County Council has proposed creating one large authority that would serve all 610,000 people in the county besides York, which would remain a separate unitary authority.

The seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, have put forward an alternative east / west model that would result in two smaller authorities.

The district councils claim the county council’s model is too big and remote and their alternative suggestion would lead to more responsive local government.

In June, Mr Clarke said the size of unitary authorities “depended on local circumstances but as a rule of thumb are expected to be substantially in excess of 300,000 to 400,000”.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones if he was satisfied with Mr Clarke’s response and his view on the best devolution model for North Yorkshire but he had not replied by the time of publication.

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‘Too big and remote’

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